Trip overview
Over 4 days experience in Nam Ha NPA. Visiting the cave, minority group in the remote area, trekking through the hidden heart of the forest and Kayaking in the white water along dramatic Nam Ha River. Discovering herb, plants and wildlife’s habitat. Testing authentic local Lao food s using the resources of the jungle and traditional bushcraft methods. Learning to be survived in the jungle: how to forage for food, build shelters, utilize natural resources.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Luang Namtha-Ban Prang-Ban Nam Khouy
In the morning: At 09:00am briefing with the tour guide and depart from the office or your hotel to visit the morning market, where we get the food supplies, then heading to Khmu villages on the main road and exploring culture and tradition of Khmu minority group in Ban Prang. The guide will lead you walk through the middle of the village and talk about Khmu experience briefly. Trek will lead you hike up to the mountain from Ban Prang to Ban Nam Khouy.

In the afternoon: During the trek, we will stop to forage edible vegetation to prepare our picnic lunch as cooking in the forest by using the jungle methods as banana leaves, bamboo pipes… At around 03:00pm, arriving to the village of Lahu minority group, that will be on time to do village sightseeing, enjoying the great viewpoint before sun sets and exploring culture and tradition of Lahu minority group.

In the evening: Cooking class will be starting, enjoy the nightlife activity as a bonfire with Local people’s story after dinner until you feel asleep, so the accommodation is in the village.

Remark: the village no toilet, bathing is walking down to small stream.

Day 2: Ban Nam Khouy-Jungle Camp
In the morning: After breakfast, tea or coffee, start trekking along to the valley of Nam Ha NPA from Ban Nam Khouy to Jungle camp 1. Trek will bring you into the primary forest to enjoying the nature in the Nam Ha NPA. Sometimes, we will stop to forage edible vegetation and learn about herb, animal during the trek

In the afternoon: On this day is a unique experience trek through the untouched jungle of Nam Ha NPA, on wildlife trail, learning jungle survival skill, and medical plant (herb). Trek will climb to the mountain for 1000 meters up from the sea level. Continuing on the trail we soon find ourselves deep in an ancient forest, surrounded by giant trees as the sounds of wildlife in the air. As we move further into the afternoon, we must find a suitable campsite for the night and will arrive to the jungle camp area around 04:00-05:00pm

In the evening: Learning how to set up a banana leaf shelter and bamboo cutlery from our guides, collecting banana leaves, bamboo and fire wood for bonfire and later enjoy a well-earned dinner. The accommodation is banana leaves camp.

Day 3: Jungle Camp-Ban Nalan
In the morning: Early in the morning, you may be interested to do Jungle safari (early morning if you want), listening bird’s singing to each other’s and short trek around the camp site before breakfast. start trekking downhill to Jungle camp, camp site is close to the river. Then you can a choice, first option is crossing the mighty Nam Ha River, before making our way up lush hillside covered in dense tropical forest (5-6 hours), second is start trekking from the camp to lunch stop to crossing the river before arriving to village (3-4 hours).

In the afternoon: Around midday we will stop at a picturesque location for Lao jungle picnic, before pushing on through the wild jungle landscape; crossing river and climbing over or under mighty trees fallen across the trail. We continue hiking on the trail through dense jungle, where fields of cardamom and rattan are decorated with huge banana plants and groves of bamboo. After lunch stop, keeping on trek to Ban Nalan (homestay). So checking in time before you do exploring the culture and tradition of Khmu minority group.

In the evening: Before dinner is served at 7:00pm enjoy rest or take a refreshing dip in the river, and then Baci ceremony is next. For nightlife activities in Khmu village is enjoying Khmu traditional perform, bonfire…, lastly head to bed in the comfort of Khmu homestay

Day 4: Ban Nalan-Ban Houylued
In the morning: Breakfast and coffee or tea made fresh by your guides. After breakfast we meet up at the riverside behind the eco-lodge and, after basic instructions on kayaking techniques and safety, we begin paddling down the glorious river and soon find ourselves speeding through the first few rapids. We stop off further downriver to visit another charming Khmu tribe at Nalan Tai village and enjoy another delicious Lao picnic lunch.

In the afternoon: Back on the river take time between tackling each exciting rapid to watch dramatic scenery unfold, as steep jungle-covered hills rise almost vertically on each side. We land at the picturesque Nam Koy village of the Lantan people where you can learn about their unique methods of natural dying and bamboo paper making. The current quickens and we join the mighty Namtha river. After tackling yet more exciting rapids we reach the Houy Leuat village and the end of our kayaking adventure. Our dedicated tuk-tuk collects us for a 1-hour ride back to the office.